CAN someone tell me why is it, when we supposedly have enormous demand for affordable housing, from the council's own statistics, that a home in Tostig Avenue has been empty for 14 weeks?

My question follows an article in The Press last week (Fast track to council home, October 12) in which a council spokesman said of its new scheme to deal with hard-to-let properties: "This is beneficial not only to the tenants, but also to the housing department by helping to cut the number of empty homes and improving letting times."

If there is such demand, how can homes be hard to let? How many council properties are actually empty today and awaiting occupiers?

I look forward to a response.

John Reeves FRICS, Chairman, The Helmsley Group Ltd, Colenso House, Omega 1, Monks Cross Drive, Monks Cross, York.

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "The property Mr Reeves refers to was vandalised and set on fire shortly after it became empty, resulting in significant repairs being required to make the property habitable.

"Unfortunately despite the property being secured, it was again vandalised and flooded, resulting in further works being required prior to it being relet.

"The council currently manages just over 8,000 properties, of which 62 are currently empty and in the process of being relet. The demand for properties in York is generally high, with more than 2,500 applicants on the waiting list for council accommodation.

"However, a small number of council homes are less desirable and as a result, hard to let, especially bedsit properties. The council has recently introduced a number of initiatives to speed up the reletting of these properties. On average, properties are relet in 25 days."